On January 23, Mayor Bernard S. Waclin administered the oath of office to Gerard S. Cornel as the first department head of the newly established Itogon Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO).
This follows the enactment of Itogon Sanggunian Bayan Ordinance No. 142, Series of 2024, which formally created MENRO. The ordinance was later given a favorable review by the Benguet Sangguniang Panlalawigan. Prior to this, the Itogon MENRO operated as a section under the Mayor’s Office.
The creation of MENRO aligns with Presidential Executive Order No. 138, which mandates the full devolution of certain national government functions to local government units (LGUs), particularly the provision of essential services and facilities.
The primary responsibility of MENRO is to manage, conserve, preserve, and protect the environment and natural resources of the municipality.
To institutionalize MENRO’s expanded functions, the ordinance defines three core units within the office:
* Parks, Protected Areas & Wildlife, Research and Development, Forest, Water, and Natural Resources Management Unit;
* Solid Waste and Pollution Management Unit
* Environmental Engineering Services Unit
To support these functions, the ordinance also establishes a staffing structure that includes thirteen permanent employees and eight job order personnel.
